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In Christian tradition, Mark the Evangelist, the author of
the second gospel is symbolized by a lion - a figure of
courage and monarchy. Mark has John the Baptist preaching
"like a lion roaring" at the beginning of his Gospel. It
also represents Jesus' Resurrection (because lions were
believed to sleep with open eyes, a comparison with Christ
in the tomb), and Christ as king. Some Christian legends
refer to Saint Mark as "Saint Mark The Lionhearted". These
probably false legends, say that he was fed to the Lions
and the animals refused to attack or eat him. Instead the
Lions slept at his feet, while he petted them. When the
Romans saw this, they released him, spooked by the sight. |
In a key scene of "Yvain, the Knight of the Lion" (French: "Yvain,
le Chevalier au Lion"), a romance by Chrétien de Troyes, the
hero is depicted as rescuing a lion from a serpent.
Subsequently, the lion proves to be a loyal companion and a
symbol of knightly virtue, and helps Yvain complete his
altruistic ventures. In the happy end, the lion comes to dwell
with Yvain and his wife Laudine at their castle.
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